Chbistian mombebg



(No Model.)

0. MOMBERG. TOP PLATE FOR STAIR' STEPS.

Patented-Apr. 1'7, 1888.

I v W fl N 8 WH JVESSES,

UN ITED STATES PATENT Fries.

CHRISTIAN MOMBERG, OF COPENHAGEN, DEN MARK.

TOP PLATE FOR STAlR-STEPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 381,407, dated April17, 1888.

Application filed November 11, 1887. Serial No. 254,898.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, OHRIs'rmN IVIOMBERG,

' a subject of the King of Denmark, residing at Copenhagen, in theKingdom ofDenmarl ,have have invented certain new and usefulImprovementsin Top Plates for Stair-Steps, (for which I have beengranted a patent in Denmark, August 11, 1887;) and I do declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being bad to the accom panyingdrawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical sectional view ofa stairstep providedwith myimproved top plate. Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modified formof the same, showing the plate used for an old and worn-out step. Fig. 3is asectional view of a modified form of fastening, and Figs. 4 and 5are similar views of two other modifications of the fastening.

The same letters of reference indicate the same or corresponding partsin all the figures.

My invention has relation to steps for stairs; and it consists in theimproved construction and combination of parts of a top plate forstair-steps and the means for securing the same to the steps, ashereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, the letterA indicates the step, and Bindicates the top plate, which is preferably made of a harder and morefinely-finished wood than the step.

The upper side of the step is formed with grooves or recesses 0,extending from near or at the outer edge of the step, and the inner endsof these grooves or recesses are covered by means of plates D of metalsecured flush with the face of the step by means of screws E.

Plates F, having lips G upon their inner edges engaging the platescovering the inner ends of the recesses, are secured by means of screwsH to the under side of the top plate, and it will be seen that when thetop plate is placed upon the top of the step, and the lipped plates areplaced in the outer ends of the recesses, the lips may be brought toengage under the plates in the recesses, when the top plate is pushedinward upon the step. For

(No model.) Patented in Denmark August 11, 188.

the purpose of now securing the top plate from being pushed forwardagain and thus becoming disengaged from its fastenings, the upper sideof the top plate has a groove, I, near, the inner edge, which is engagedby a tongue, J, upon a strip, K, secured to the vertical face L of thenext step above, and it will be seen that the top plate can only beremoved by removing the strip, when the top plate may be pushed out andhave its fastcnings disengaged.

Then the top plate is used upon a step which is worn, and upon which theplate will consequently not fit perfectly tight, the forward edge of thetop plate is provided with a strip, M, secured to the under side of thetop plate at the edge of the same, and to the forward edge or face ofthe step, the said strip covering the uneven joint between the undersideof the top plate and the upper side of the step, as plainly shown inFig. 2 of the draw lngs.

In Fig. 3 is shown a modified form of fastener, in which the plate inthe inner ends of the recesses is not used, and in which the lip uponthe plates upon the top plate is substituted by a screw, N,whioh entersthe forward edge of the step, the plate upon the top plate extending,preferably, along the entire length 'of the step and taking the place ofthe fasteners of the former form and of the coveringstrip.

In Figs. 4 and 5 the angle-iron forming the fastening of the form justdescribed is substituted by a rectangularly-shaped strip or cleat, 0,upon the under side of the top plate at the outer edge, either integralwith the top plate, as shown at Fig. 5, or secured to the plate, asshown in Fig. 4, and the tongue P of this cleat or strip engages agroove, Q, in the forward edge of the step. It will be seen that byemploying these top plates the stairs may be originally built ofinferior or soft wood, and may be used during the construction of thebuilding without any covering, and when the building is finished, thetop plates may be secured in position, showing no traces of usage, assteps having been used during the construction of a building will, andshowing no nailholes, nail-heads, screw-heads,or other marks, beingperfectly smooth upon their upper sides.

The top plates may be painted, varnished,

veneered, or otherwise ornamented before they are placed in position,and may be either laid or relaid, one by one, so that they will notobstruct the passage upon the steps to any great extent While beinglaid.

\Vhen steps are worn,the top plates may be placed over them and willgive the stairs the appearance of a new set of steps, and when one setof top plates is worn out another set may be substituted, the platesthus saving in both instances the cost of an entirely new .set of steps.

Having thus described my invention, Iclaim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States 1. In combination with a commonstair-step, a top plate having afastening for securing the outer edge tothe step, and having a tongued strip engaging a groove in the innengedgeof the upper side and secured to the vertical face ofthe nextstep above,as shown and described.

2. In combination with acommon stair-step, a top plate having ahook-shaped fastening engaging a correspondinglyshaped fastening in thestep, and .a strip secured to the vertical face of the next step aboveand engaging a groove at the inner edge of the top plate with itstongue, as shownand described.

3. In combination with a common stair-step,

a top plate having-an inwardly hook-shaped fastening upon its under sideengaging a correspondingly-shaped outwardly-opening fast ening in thestep, and a suitable strip secured to the top plate at the inner edgeand to the vertical face of the next step above, as shown and described.

4. The combination of a common stair-step,

' having grooves or recesses in its upper face near or at the outeredge, plates secured flush with the face of the step covering the innerends of the grooves or recesses, a top plate for the step, and platessecured to the under sideof the top plate and having inwardly-pointinglipsengaging under the plates in the recesses,

5 as shown and described.

5. The combination of a common stair-step,

having grooves or recesses in its upper face near or at the outer edge,plates secured flush with the face of the step covering the inner endsof the grooves or recesses, a top plate for the step, plates secured tothe under side of the top plate and having inwardly'pointing lipsengaging under the plates in the recesses, and a strip secured to thevertical face of the next step above and having a tongue engaging agroove in the upper face of the top plate near the inner edge, as shownand set forth.

6. The combination of a common stair-step,

having grooves or recesses in its upper face near or at the outer edge,plates secured flush with the face of the step covering the inner endsof the grooves or recesses, atopplate for the step, plates secured tothe underside of the top plate, and having iuwardly pointing lipsengaging under the plates in the recesses, and a strip secured to theunder side of the top plate at the outer edge of the same covering thejoint between the top plate and the upper face of the step, as shown andset forth.

7. The combination of acoinmon stair-step, having grooves or recesses inits upper face near or at the outer edge, plates secured flush with theface of the step covering the inner ends of the grooves or recesses, atop plate for the step having a. downwardly-projecting strip or flangeat its forward edge and having av groove in the upper face near theinner edge,

plates secured to the under side of the top plate and havinginwardly-projecting lips engaging under the plates in the inner ends of80 therecesses or grooves, and a strip secured to the vertical face ofthe next step above and havinga tongue upon its lower edge engaging thegroove in the top plate, as shown and described.

In testimony whereof'I affix my signature in \Vitnesses:

OLUF SIGURD ,ANDERsEN, VIGG. CONSTANTIN EHERTT.

